Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center Specializes in Multidisciplinary Care

The Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, which includes multiple locations throughout the state of Arizona, has grown into one of America’s premier programs for the treatment of a wide range of cancers, including mesothelioma.

Since Banner Health partnered with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2011, the program has adopted a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that has helped guide thousands of patients through very difficult times.

Many of the practice standards and protocols used at the acclaimed MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston are part of the program in Arizona, including the latest in cancer education, research and prevention.

The program is headquartered at the Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona.

Banner Offers Mesothelioma Expertise

Mesothelioma is one of the many malignancies treated by specialists at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, using the most up-to-date advancements.

Dr. Helen Ross, who joined the staff in 2021 from the nearby Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, and Dr. Jiaxin Niu are medical oncologists at Banner specializing in pleural mesothelioma.

Thoracic surgeons Dr. Ryan Macke and Dr. Elbert Kuo have extensive experience in both the aggressive and minimally invasive procedures being used today with pleural mesothelioma. Radiation oncologist Dr. Josh Niska also has considerable experience treating the disease.

Each patient at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is assigned a clinical nurse navigator who serves as a single point of contact throughout their cancer journey.

Clinical Trials Ongoing at Banner Cancer Center

Great pride is taken in the customized, personalized approach to treatment at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center and the collaborative staff effort in assuring the finest care possible.

There are an extensive number of clinical trials being conducted at the cancer center, although none currently for mesothelioma exclusively. That is expected to change soon with the recent arrival of medical oncologist Ross.

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center covers a wide variety of cancers using genetic counseling, stem cell transplantation and psycho-oncology therapy. There also is an emphasis on an integrative approach to oncology, which includes nutritional, physical, social and emotional aspects of a patient’s care.

Patients with mesothelioma may be treated with traditional chemotherapy but also with emerging immunotherapy, which has proven especially effective in conjunction with other treatments.

The immunotherapy combination of Opdivo and Yervoy, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with customized targeted therapy, could be an option for patients.

Among the other cancers treated at the center are lung, esophageal, head and neck, and a variety of stomach cancers.